Ravitch Reflection- Chapter 5: The Facts About Test Scores
In this chapter Ravitch is arguing that test scores are not falling and that they are simply at the highest they have ever been. She looks at a lot of evidence from the NAEP exam (National Assessment of Educational Progress), which looks at scores of forth, eighth, and twelfth graders. Students have been learned more difficult material since the ‘90s and therefore their test scores have started to increase. The NAEP measures students in a scale score and an achievement level. When students score below proficient on the achievement level, they are thought they are below basic, which is completely false. Majority of students are below proficient but are in the basic category meaning they are average. Because people misread these scores, they are lead to believe that test scores are decreasing. But students who score basic are doing just fine; they are your typical B/C student. Math and Reading scores in almost every group of students have been improving over the past 20 years at a slow, consistent rate. Ravitch believes that reformers are interpreting the scores incorrectly; our scores are improving slowly over time.
I like this chapter in the book because it relates to my Strategic Plan Project. Individually I researched the question how effective international standardized test scores are. As a group we researched the effectiveness of standardized tests. We came up with the conclusion that there are better methods of measuring intelligence other than standardized tests. I did not research the trends in test scores over the years. Although, we are lagging behind other countries in our international exams Ravitch says that we are slowly improving over time in our own country. Of course, we can generate better test scores there is no question of that. But there is something to be said about our scores increasing over the past 20 years. Often reformers simply blame the education system but course material is gradually getting more difficult and therefore our scores are gradually improving. Although the assessment scores aren’t very high in comparison to other countries, the United States’ test scores are increasing.
This chapter is important in relation to developing a new strategic plan for Rhode Island Department of Education. They think that we have low test scores and that we need to improve them. We definitely need to increase our assessment scores but we also need to recognize that we have improved over time. The Rhode Island Department of Education needs to find ways we can keep improving our test scores and even at a faster rate. Because students’ scores have been getting progressively better but very slowly and consistently. It would be important to add into the Strategic Plan a way to improve student scores.
In this chapter Ravitch is arguing that test scores are not falling and that they are simply at the highest they have ever been. She looks at a lot of evidence from the NAEP exam (National Assessment of Educational Progress), which looks at scores of forth, eighth, and twelfth graders. Students have been learned more difficult material since the ‘90s and therefore their test scores have started to increase. The NAEP measures students in a scale score and an achievement level. When students score below proficient on the achievement level, they are thought they are below basic, which is completely false. Majority of students are below proficient but are in the basic category meaning they are average. Because people misread these scores, they are lead to believe that test scores are decreasing. But students who score basic are doing just fine; they are your typical B/C student. Math and Reading scores in almost every group of students have been improving over the past 20 years at a slow, consistent rate. Ravitch believes that reformers are interpreting the scores incorrectly; our scores are improving slowly over time.
I like this chapter in the book because it relates to my Strategic Plan Project. Individually I researched the question how effective international standardized test scores are. As a group we researched the effectiveness of standardized tests. We came up with the conclusion that there are better methods of measuring intelligence other than standardized tests. I did not research the trends in test scores over the years. Although, we are lagging behind other countries in our international exams Ravitch says that we are slowly improving over time in our own country. Of course, we can generate better test scores there is no question of that. But there is something to be said about our scores increasing over the past 20 years. Often reformers simply blame the education system but course material is gradually getting more difficult and therefore our scores are gradually improving. Although the assessment scores aren’t very high in comparison to other countries, the United States’ test scores are increasing.
This chapter is important in relation to developing a new strategic plan for Rhode Island Department of Education. They think that we have low test scores and that we need to improve them. We definitely need to increase our assessment scores but we also need to recognize that we have improved over time. The Rhode Island Department of Education needs to find ways we can keep improving our test scores and even at a faster rate. Because students’ scores have been getting progressively better but very slowly and consistently. It would be important to add into the Strategic Plan a way to improve student scores.